Expanding the Mad Stat

[Arch]

It does appear to be thus contingent. I thought I had heard a Nigel Howe interview in which the plan was for a second tier to the East and extension of the single tiers N and S. These two expansions could be done independently of each other.

As an interesting aside, crowds are down sufficiently elsewhere that we stand a decent chance of having the 14th highest average in the country. We're currently 16th, but could well pass Charlton and Norwich if their gates shrink a bit. On the other hand, we're likely to be passed by Southampton if they make a decent run at promotion.

[Bill Oddie]

Great idea, always better to have over capacity than not enough. I remember when we were building the Mad Stad and plenty of people were moaning that it was too big and we would never fill it. You get the infastructure right and fingers crossed the rest should follow. Reading built a 25k ground and Oxford 15K, the two clubs couldn't be further apart now, it's also a reason why the Red Filth are floating around the second division. Building a decent stadium with a large capacity WILL set the size of your club for the next 100 years.

[JC]

If they do expand it will there also be an expansion in facilities, particularly catering which is still a huge joke

[Coppelloadofthat]

Apparently the planning submission includes provision for an extra 3 inches on a hot dog, king-size pies and beer by the litre

[Denver Royal]

Yeah, thanks, I didn't know how contingent the re-development was on us staying up.

Maybe in an ideal world, it would be, but then I got to thinking about all the planning that must be involved, the building and construction plans/contracts/commitments, etc.

I mean, in Apr/May, with all the re-development wheels in motion, if we go down would they be able to do a U-turn and pull the plug on everything?

[royalsteve]

Apparently the planning submission includes provision for an extra 3 inches on a hot dog, king-size pies and beer by the litre

yes but the price will double

[FiNeRaIn]

Yeah, thanks, I didn't know how contingent the re-development was on us staying up.

Maybe in an ideal world, it would be, but then I got to thinking about all the planning that must be involved, the building and construction plans/contracts/commitments, etc.

I mean, in Apr/May, with all the re-development wheels in motion, if we go down would they be able to do a U-turn and pull the plug on everything?

Valuable point. But, We can afford to increase the ground as we have spent nothing on the team, we got in excess of 20 million for being promoted along with a hell of a lot of other income.
Its viable to the business. To move forward we NEED to give more suporters a chance to see us.
We stand to loose little and gain a lot if we go through with it, its 10-15 million we will never need to spend again, and at the current financial siutation at RFC we can afford it. If we get relegated, drop the prices significantly, give away fans a bigger allocation, and we should still get some decent crowds. Its worth the risk IMO.

[Dai Brainbocs]

How big a capacity would be required to host games in the 2012 Olympics?

[Rob-Royal]

How big a capacity would be required to host games in the 2012 Olympics?

That's a good question to which I am not entirely sure. I seem to recall RFC putting themselves forward as a potential venue and it being turned down, may well be wrong on this.

Also, wouldn't the bid submitted last year to the IOC already have all the venues in place as part of that bid...? Meaning we can assume that The Mad is not part of that....?

[MartinRdg]

How big a capacity would be required to host games in the 2012 Olympics?

That's a good question to which I am not entirely sure. I seem to recall RFC putting themselves forward as a potential venue and it being turned down, may well be wrong on this.

Also, wouldn't the bid submitted last year to the IOC already have all the venues in place as part of that bid...? Meaning we can assume that The Mad is not part of that....?

International football games is another option of course and I believe you need a capacity over 30,000 for this (hence why the game against Belarus was a 'B' international)

[Harps stay sharp]

I have heard that the South will be first to be expanded as there are no season ticket holders there. Then the North Stand STH will occupy the South while work takes place on the North stand, then the east will be last as the STH in the East can occupy the North & South extensions while the work takes place.

Seems sensible.

[Spirit of Elm Park]

I have heard that the South will be first to be expanded as there are no season ticket holders there. Then the North Stand STH will occupy the South while work takes place on the North stand, then the east will be last as the STH in the East can occupy the North & South extensions while the work takes place.

Seems sensible.

Seems like a logistical nightmare, given the performance of our ticket office.

[Woodcote Royal]

Hence the recent management departures?

[Wycombe Royal]

I just hope they also have a plan with regards to how they will get all the additional cars to and from the stadium and where to park them.

2 words

Monorail

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5370564.stm

[Reading Abbey]

Motty mentioned in his commentary that hew spoke with John Madejski before kick off this fine evening and was told that depending on Premiership survival, they plan to increase to 38,000.
I know the press reported that we would hope to increase by 10,000 minimum, but it seems this is the intention of the club, and that really is quite ambitious!

I still think that we will struggle to fill that, and would rather see us develop maybe the East Stand first and see how we handle filling a 30,000 ish capacity first.

That will look absolutely massive though!

[FiNeRaIn]

It won't look that big to be honest. Highbury was 38,000 and it didn't look much bigger than the mad stad,IMO.

We keep expanding and growing at the rate we are, we will have no problem filling it, especially for big games.

[Reading Abbey]

It won't look that big to be honest. Highbury was 38,000 and it didn't look much bigger than the mad stad,IMO.

You say that, yet if we build with the same seating plan i.e so much space between rows rather than pack 'em in, then those stands will be very tall and steep! It will appear far larger than the 38,000 capacity that it could be.

[The 17 Bus]

If they do expand it will there also be an expansion in facilities, particularly catering which is still a huge joke

would that be the outside catering, which before the game, an hour to kick off had no queues whatsoever behind the North Stand?

[Jerry St Clair]

It won't look that big to be honest. Highbury was 38,000 and it didn't look much bigger than the mad stad,IMO.

You say that, yet if we build with the same seating plan i.e so much space between rows rather than pack 'em in, then those stands will be very tall and steep! It will appear far larger than the 38,000 capacity that it could be.

Correct. Pride Park and the Walkers Stadium aren't any bigger that the Mad, but have far more seats because they pack the rows closer together.

[Forbury Lion]

Multi story car parks should be on the agenda too, like the ones at cannons gym and HP.

Parking revenue will pay for it in time, especially if used during the week for park and ride.

Congestion could/will be a problem